Systems for Calibrating Airflow Rates in Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Ducts and HVAC Systems Including the Same

Abstract

Airflow calibration systems are provided that are configured to be received in a duct of a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The air flow calibration systems include a housing including an air flow grid; and at least one pressure sensing cell positioned in the housing, the at least one cell being configured such that air flows through the at least one cell when the airflow calibration system is positioned in the duct of the HVAC system. The airflow calibration system is configured to be temporarily installed in the duct of the HVAC system to calibrate the HVAC system upon completion of the HVAC system or to recalibrate the HVAC system after a period of time.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An airflow calibration system configured to be received in a duct of a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the air flow calibration system comprising:
 a housing including an air flow grid; and   at least one pressure sensing cell positioned in the housing, the at least one cell being configured such that air flows through the at least one cell when the airflow calibration system is positioned in the duct of the HVAC system,   wherein the airflow calibration system is configured to be temporarily installed in the duct of the HVAC system to calibrate the HVAC system upon completion of the HVAC system or to recalibrate the HVAC system after a period of time.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 :
 wherein the HVAC system includes an air handler, a return manifold and a media cabinet between the air handler and the return manifold;   wherein the HVAC system further includes an entry transition manifold between the filter media cabinet and the air handler and an exit transition manifold between the air handler and a supply manifold; and   wherein the at least one pressure sensing cell comprises a plurality of pressure sensing cells installed at least in both the entry and exit transition manifolds.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the air flow grid is positioned in the filter media cabinet. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 :
 wherein the HVAC system includes an air handler and a return manifold;   wherein the HVAC system further includes an entry transition manifold between the air handler and the return manifold and an exit transition manifold between the air handler and a supply manifold; and   wherein the at least one pressure sensing cell comprises a plurality of pressure sensing cells installed in at least both the entry and exit manifolds.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the air flow grid is positioned in a return air stream in front of the return manifold. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 :
 wherein the air flow grid of the airflow calibration system is coupled to an air handler module including a pressure difference unit and a data processing unit;   wherein the air flow grid is configured to measure a first airflow value corresponding a first speed for a fan in the air handler, the first speed being selected by the air handler module; and   wherein the original calibrated airflow value is compared to the measured first airflow value to provide a deviation between the original calibrated airflow value and the measured first airflow value.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the airflow grid is configured to measure second through N airflow values and wherein second through N deviations are calculated for each of the corresponding airflow values. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the airflow grid is removed after the system is calibrated and replaced by a filter for normal operations. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the HVAC system includes a calibrated supply register configured to measure air flow in the HVAC system and determine a customized size for a supply register for the particular HVAC system. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the HVAC system further includes at least one variable damper in a corresponding supply duct of the HVAC system configured to be controlled remotely to adjust airflow for each room associated with the at least one variable damper and the corresponding supply duct. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the airflow calibration system communicates with a local reference model that is updated by a shared reference module located in a central database, the central database including information related to a plurality of HVAC systems remote from the HVAC system associated with the calibration system. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to measure an amount of air being conditioned for a specified unit of time. 
     
     
         13 . A heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system comprising:
 an air flow calibration system, the airflow calibration system comprising:
 a housing including an air flow grid; and 
 at least one pressure sensing cell positioned in the housing, the at least one cell being configured such that air flows through the at least one cell when the airflow calibration system is positioned in the duct of the HVAC system, 
 wherein the airflow calibration system is configured to be temporarily installed in the duct of the HVAC system to calibrate the HVAC system upon completion of the HVAC system or to recalibrate the HVAC system after a period of time. 
   
     
     
         14 . The HVAC system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an air handler, a return manifold and a media cabinet between the air handler and the return manifold;   an entry transition manifold between the filter media cabinet and the air handler; and   an exit transition manifold between the air handler and a supply manifold,   wherein the at least one pressure sensing cell comprises a plurality of pressure sensing cells installed at least in both the entry and exit transition manifolds.   
     
     
         15 . The HVAC system of  claim 14 , wherein the air flow grid is positioned in the filter media cabinet. 
     
     
         16 . The HVAC system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an air handler and a return manifold; and   an entry transition manifold between the air handler and the return manifold; and   
       an exit transition manifold between the air handler and a supply manifold, wherein the at least one pressure sensing cell comprises a plurality of pressure sensing cells installed in at least both the entry and exit manifolds. 
     
     
         17 . The HVAC system of  claim 16 , wherein the air flow grid is positioned in a return air stream in front of the return manifold. 
     
     
         18 . The HVAC system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an air handler module coupled to the air flow grid of the airflow calibration system, the air handler module including a pressure difference unit and a data processing unit,   wherein the air flow grid is configured to measure a first airflow value corresponding a first speed for a fan in the air handler, the first speed being selected by the air handler module; and   wherein the data processing unit compares the original calibrated airflow value is to the measured first airflow value to provide a deviation between the original calibrated airflow value and the measured first airflow value.   
     
     
         19 . The HVAC system of  claim 18 , wherein the airflow grid is configured to measure second through N airflow values and wherein the data processing unit calculates second through N deviations for each of the corresponding airflow values. 
     
     
         20 . The HVAC system of  claim 18 , wherein the airflow grid is removed from the HVAC system after the system is calibrated and replaced by a filter for normal operations. 
     
     
         21 . The HVAC system of  claim 13 , further comprising a calibrated supply register configured to measure air flow in the HVAC system and determine a customized size for a supply register for the particular HVAC system. 
     
     
         22 . The HVAC system of  claim 21 , further comprising at least one variable damper in a corresponding supply duct of the HVAC system configured to be controlled remotely to adjust airflow for each room associated with the at least one variable damper and the corresponding supply duct. 
     
     
         23 . The HVAC system of  claim 13 , wherein the airflow calibration system communicates with a local reference model that is updated by a shared reference module located in a central database, the central database including information related to a plurality of HVAC systems remote from the HVAC system associated with the calibration system. 
     
     
         24 . The HVAC system of  claim 13 , wherein the HVAC system is configured to measure an amount of air being conditioned for a specified unit of time.